Dust-cap



' E. V. MYERS.

DUST CAP. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, 1918.

1 ,399,31 1. Patented Dec. 6,1921.

-INVENTOR WITNESS: i /iym Wm B Atiorn W M y y f I Z/ WWW UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE V. MYERS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO A. SCHRADERS SON, INCORPORATED, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DUST-CAP.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

Application filed December 20, 1918. Serial No. 267,702.

of the quick-detachable type which are adapted to be slid over the tire valve until approximately the final position is reached.

whereupon they are secured in place; According to the present invention I provide a'cap which is adapted to frictionally engage the wall of the tire valve with a powerful gripping action and which, nevertheless, may be unprovided with screw-threads so that the position of the cap on the valve stem need have no reference to the precise projection of the valve stem from the rim nut or felly. The gripping action is adjustable and may vbe made as great or small as may be desired. Heretofore, such an effect has been secured only by the use of a packing material, such as soft rubber, which is apt to speedily wear out in use and which enters between the threads of the valve casing when compressed. According to the present invention, the pressure members are smooth and substantial and are made of hard material, such as metal, so that they engage in efi'ect the points of the threads. The cap is adapted to be operated by one hand, both for applying and removing. The invention includes "ertain other features of construction which'will be hereinafter more fully described.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate one form of the invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the cap.

Fig. 2 is an underside view.

Fig. 3 is a diametrical section of the cap showing the valve stem in elevation.

Fig. i is an elevation of the lower part of the cap member.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 55 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 66 in Fig. Al.

Referring the drawing let A represent the cap as a whole which, as shown, comprises a cap portion B and a foot portion C. The cap portion carries a series of movable elements D- which are shown as spring arms formed integrally with the cap portion. The cap portion and spring arms are preferably made of metal or other hard material and the spring arms are adapted to frictionally engage the valve casing, as distinguished from making a positive engagement therewith, as would be the case if the arms were provided with complement-a1 screw-threads adapted to engage'the threads on the casing. According to the present invention,1I provide means for causing a frictional engagement of the spring arms, which means are capable of adjustment to progressively-increase the frictional grip of the arms upon the tire valve casing after the cap is in place. This is accomplished in the construction illustrated by a wedging member which constitutes the foot portion C. The wedging member is preferably provided with wedging faces E designed to be engaged by the bottom portions of the spring arms and a connection is provided such as the screw-thread F which, as the cap portion B is rotated, will force the spring arms inwardly to an extent proportional to the screwing-up action of the cap portion B.

It will be seen that the engagement between the spring arms and the tire valve casing is. secured without the use of threads upon the spring arms, so that the cap is cheaper to construct and does not depend upon the matching of the threads on the arms and tire valve casing. It will also be seen that the engagement is secured without the necessity of the use of soft rubber packings or other compressible material which by compression is caused to enter and fill the spaces between the threads. In both instances the engagement is positive in its nature and does not depend upon the frictional grip of the arms upon the valve casing. I have found in practice, that the grip secured by the present invention is adequate to hold the cap under all conditions of use; that the cap is much more durable than those which depend upon a, compressible gasket; that the cap may be positioned close to the rim nut irrespective of the projection of the threads, and that there is no appreciable wear upon the valve casing threads, since the frictional grip thereon is directly inward, there being no sliding mo tion of the cap against the threads.

The important feature of the invention is its capacity for being applied and removed by one hand of the user. This is secured by the provision of a non-rotative connection between the foot or wedging portion C and the valve casing. This is best provided by forming flat portions G upon the lower end of the wedging portion which engages the flats on the tire valve casing.

The engaging portions of the spring arms D may be roughened if desired, to increase the frictional grip. The spring arms may be adapted to engage the flats of the valve or the threads, or both, preferably the threaded portion.

Vhile I have shown and described one form of the invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, as various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will also be understood that the invention is not limited'to dust caps, but

may be applied to other analogous devices which it is desired to connect with a valve or other similar structure. This application is specific to my application No. 267,701, filed December 20, 1918.

What I claim is 1. In a dust cap or the like, means for engaging the tire valve casing, said means formed of substantially noncompressible material, and means for positively forcing said means into frictional contact with the valve casing, said forcing means being adjustable, so that the engaging means may be tightened by hand to a lesser or greater degree to hold the cap against direct or indirect longitudinal displacement on the valve casing.

2. A dust cap adapted to fit over a threaded valve casing and having gripping frictional arms, and means for positively forcing said arms against said valve casing with an adjustable force to clamp the cap on the valve casing against both direct and indirect longitudinal movements, said means being adapted to hold the cap at any point on the exposed portion of the valve casing.

3. A dust cap having gripping frictional arms and means for moving such arms toward each other, said means comprising a wedging member and a screw-threaded connection between said wedging member and the cap portion of said dust cap.

4. A dust cap having substantially noncompressible means for frictionally engaging a tire valve casing and means having a non-rotative connection with the tire valve casing for positively forcing said engaging means into contact with the valve casing.

55. A dust cap having substantially noncompressible means for frictionally engaging a tire valve casing, and means for positively forcing said means into contact with the valve casing, said last named means comprising a foot portion having flats for engaging the tire valve casing, said foot portion being connected to the body of the cap by a screw-thread.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

EUGENE V. MYERS. 

